Kings’ Doug Christie Not Yet On Hot Seat

The Kings’ poor start has led to speculation around the NBA that head coach Doug Christie might already be on the hot seat, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic, but he hears from a source with knowledge of the team’s plans that’s not actually the case. As Amick explains, there’s a belief within the organization that Christie deserves the opportunity to be evaluated once he has a healthier roster to work with.

Maxime Raynaud (right knee) and Dylan Cardwell (left calf) are two projected members of the frontcourt rotation who have yet to make their season debuts due to injuries. Starting forward Keegan Murray is also sidelined as a result of left ankle capsulitis following offseason surgery. And Ben Simmons, who was penciled in as part of Christie’s starting lineup, suffered a season-ending Achilles tear just before the regular season tipped off.

When Christie and the Kings finalized a new contract in the spring of 2025, they worked out a three-year deal that only features two fully guaranteed seasons. That means 2026/27 is his final guaranteed year, with the club holding an option for ’27/28. So even though Sacramento isn’t considering making a change this early in the season, there will certainly be some pressure on Christie to show more in the coming months.

Of course, the Kings aren’t viewed as a serious playoff contender in the Western Conference, so Amick suggests that Christie’s performance will be assessed based on development — his own, as well as that of Sacramento’s young players. With that in mind, Darius Acuff Jr.’s performance against New Orleans on Thursday was a positive. The rookie guard had the best game of his young NBA career, racking up 34 points and 14 assists in the loss, with the Kings outscoring the Pelicans during his time on the floor.

On the other hand, 2025 first-round pick Nique Clifford – who averaged over 25 minutes per game in 75 appearances as a rookie – has played a very limited role so far this season, logging 27 total minutes in four outings, with a DNP-CD on Sunday vs. Memphis.